This one wasn't easy for me.....

I received a request for a particular hole that someone is getting married at.  She sent several pictures of this hole & everyone looked different to me.  Yet oddly the same.  I stared at the pictures & just couldn't process them.  It was like trying to read a foreign language.  

I've only been on a golf course twice, and I must admit I was driving a beer cart both times.  I'm not competitive, I don't get sports, and quiet frankly, I don't care for them.  But, I do like a challenge when I paint, so I jumped right in.

I'm guessing this isn't what the customer had in mind, but I actually like it.  I have no reason to hang a golf picture in my house, but I'd consider this one.  It might be on etsy soon if it isn't well received.     

Cabbage and such...

Some of my most treasured possessions are items made by other artists.  A few years ago I bought this large cabbage painting (about 4' long, 3.5' tall) from a client.  She bought it from an estate sale in Maryland many years back.  She gave me the name of the artist (which I've now misplaced), but I was unable to find any information on her.  It barely fit in my car and I didn't have a clue where I was going to put it.  I was met with much resistance from the husband.  He thought, and still thinks, it looks like an underwater shot of seaweed.  I think it's beautiful.  It's hanging in our living room.

Last week I realized how inspiring a cabbage can be.  Our neighbors have had a garden growing this entire year. It has been fruitful every month and they've been very generous with the bounty.  The last drop included a beautiful head of cabbage.  If I didn't already have a cabbage painting, I'd be working on one right now.

Moving right along..... remember the bathroom remodel?  Well, the demo has begun & the contractor is moving fast.  Here are a few pictures:

Tidbits of Thankfulness

As much as I fancy myself as still looking like a college student, the cold hard truth is... I'm not.  The only solace I find in that truth is my excuse for not remembering what I learned in art classes.  Just as all freshman take English 101 (that's what it was called when I was in it anyway), art students take Figure Drawing, as well as a series of other basic art classes.  I want to be sure to point out that was in 1997 & 1998. 

Being blessed with the opportunity to exercise my artist ability daily has inspired me to search the old brain for previous knowledge.  I ran across an excellent resource at the public library that is assisting me in this process....."Artist Materials" by Lorraine Harrison.    I would encourage all aspiring artist (or ones that need a refresher) to check it out.
Another thing I'm thankful for is that my parents don't get rid of as much stuff as I do (that may be the first time I've said that).  Up until fairly recently I've used their house as a storage unit.  At one point I told my mom to throw everything that was still there away.  If I haven't missed it by now, I don't need it.  She didn't listen to me, so I was able to salvage my masonite drawing board (from 1997 (by the way, that thing is huge & I used to have to carry it on the bus.  Talk about awkward.)) for a perfect watercolor board.    

I'm thankful for so many things, but I'll stop with this.... Stevie.  I've never met her, wouldn't know who she was if she walked right up to me.  She owned our house before us & she loved plants.  I mean, took plant loving to an extreme.  We've been told that she was on a plant rescue team... I'll let you figure out what that is.  Anyhow, the yard was a jungle when we moved in, but after months of taming the beast we ended up with lots of amazing plants.  They really do their thing in the spring, so all I have to do is look out the window for inspiration.  Thanks Stevie.